Producing Pyrolysis Liquids and
‘Wood Vinegar’ from Biomass
Earth Systems specialises in the development of technologies that sustainably convert biomass into energy
and other useful solid and liquid products. We have designed, manufactured and patented a slow pyrolysis
technology called the CharMaker Mobile Pyrolysis Plant. The CharMaker can efficiently extract bio-liquids
from waste biomass, which are a sustainable alternative to many fossil-based fuels and chemicals.
APPLICATIONS OF ‘WOOD VINEGAR’
PESTICIDE
Wood vinegar can be used as a natural plant-derived
pesticide for use on a number of crops. It has been
shown to deter aphids and termites from rubber wood
plantations. It can also be used in animal husbandry.
For example wood vinegar used in chicken farms
successfully decreased the prevalence of red mites, a
serious pest in poultry farming.
HERBICIDE
With a global trend towards a more sustainable economy based
on renewable resources, biomass derived products are becoming
increasingly attractive. Pyrolysis involves the high temperature treatment of biomass without oxygen and offers a way of efficiently transforming biomass into a spectrum of valuable and useful products.
The products represent a sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel based
products and a natural alternative to synthetic chemicals including
fertilisers, and pesticides.
At Earth Systems we have developed an innovative technology
that can effectively pyrolyse a wide range of biomass feedstocks.
The CharMaker Mobile Pyrolysis Plant (MPP) is a batch pyrolysis unit
that was developed primarily to generate large amounts of biochar
per batch. Biochar is a charcoal like substance and is itself a valuable
product for use as a soil conditioner.
Recently, we have upgraded the CharMaker technology to include
an optional Bio-liquids Recovery System. This technology provides a
number of liquid fractions that are sustainable alternatives to petroleum derived products. The CharMaker can produce the following:
• Biochar (solid charcoal like substance)
• Pyrolysis liquids (bio-oils and ‘wood vinegar’)
• High grade heat
contact
AUSTRALIA
PLANT GERMINATION/GROWTH ENHANCER
Wood vinegar can enhance the growth and germination rates of many plant species. It is therefore a
very useful product for a range of applications such
as nurseries, botanical gardens and large ecosystem
regeneration projects.
OTHER USES:
• Enhance composting processes
• Fungal growth enhancer
• Natural preservative
• Dilute with water at different ratios for various applications including: enriching soils, soil treatment,
fertilisation, pesticide use, seed germination, fungal
disease treatment
• Healthcare products
AFRICA
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MELBOURNE
Wood vinegar has been applied at higher concentrations as a herbicide on various plants.
PERTH
BRISBANE
DARWIN
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ASIA
CHINA
EUROPE
DAKAR
VIENTIANE
SHANGHAI
BRISTOL
KIGALI
CASE STUDY: KADOORIE FARM &
BOTANIC GARDENS - HONG KONG
Earth Systems have been working with Kadoorie Farm
& Botanic Garden (KFBG) in Hong Kong to install a full
CharMaker solution on the premises. KFBG are using
the CharMaker to process waste biomass from woody
weed clearance and general garden maintenance. The
biochar produced is being utilised in forest regeneration
work within the gardens.
Barrels of pyrolysis liquid and wood vinegar produced by the CharMaker.
The CharMaker works by heating woody biomass without oxygen
until a smoky vapour is produced. The vapour is cooled as it leaves
the pyrolysis chamber, condensing into a liquid that can be extracted via our Bio-liquids Recovery System. This system collects and
separates the liquids into three main fractions — a light oil, heavy
oils (bio-oil) and the majority fraction ‘wood vinegar’ (also known
as ‘liquid smoke’ or ‘pyroligneous acid’). Earth Systems has now pioneered a commercial Bio-liquids Recovery System specifically for the
CharMaker. This technology is available as a standard add-on to the
CharMaker MPP pyrolysis unit.
Once separated, the light and heavy oil fractions present in the
liquids are energy rich and can be used as a sustainable fuel source,
replacing fossil fuels such as diesel. Earth Systems is developing the
ability to utilise these oils as a fuel source for the CharMaker and
also for other heating energy needs such as in boilers and building
heating systems.
The ‘wood vinegar’ fraction offers a wide range of very exciting
applications. These include application as a pesticide, herbicide and
germination enhancer or even as a disease suppressant in animal
husbandry (see box insert for more details). These applications
can benefit agricultural, horticultural and ecosystem regeneration
activities.
The liquids produced in the pyrolysis process also contain many
valuable chemicals such as acetic acid, acetol, methanol, phenols,
catechol, pyrine, vanillin and syringol. These ‘bio-based’ chemicals
offer sustainable alternatives to similar products derived from petroleum and synthetic chemicals.
The CharMaker offers a way of turning your biomass waste streams
into a number of valuable and sustainable products while sequestering carbon — helping move towards a greener global economy.
Website: www.esenergy.com.au
Phone: +44 (0) 117 373 6653 (UK) Email: [email protected]
+61 (0) 3 9810 7500 (Australia)
[email protected]
The unit also has an integrated and fully automated
Bio-liquids Recovery System. The system produces
250 litres of bio-liquids per batch. The ‘wood vinegar’ is
extracted from the recovered liquids and applied around
the gardens as a natural pesticide and herbicide spray
product for pest control, and other botanic garden uses.